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Officials Present at Forensic Conference

Tags: DOC
December 05, 2018 12:00 AM
By: DOC Staff

PA Coat of Arms

Wetzel - 2018 November Forensics Conference.pngOn November 28, DOC Secretary John Wetzel gave the keynote address at the 26th Annual Forensic Rights and Treatment Conference, which was sponsored by Drexel University College of Medicine. This year's conference focused on Crisis Intervention Teams and current issues, such as correctional census reduction and human trafficking.

Secretary Wetzel provided an overview of criminal justice and forensic mental health initiatives (e.g., "Stepping Up") occurring not only in Pennsylvania but also in the rest of the United States. His overview was extremely insightful in that as a nationally-recognized thought leader, he was able to describe to mental health stakeholders from PA exactly where Pennsylvania stands in relation to the rest of the country.

Secretary Wetzel's discussion provided an uplifting and empowering tone to the entire conference, which was attended by representatives from the Pennsylvania Psychological Association, PA state universities, the Department of Human Services, OMHSAS, Norristown State Hospital, Human Services Administration Organization, MacArthur Foundation Safety and Justice Challenge, Council of State Governments, ASERT, Action Wellness, Recovery Institute, INC, Allegheny County & Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, as well as more than 30 current and former employees of the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections.

Secretary Wetzel also discussed several areas of concern that national correctional leaders are discussing, including how the corrections industry interfaces with the problem of human trafficking. Secretary Wetzel provided a thorough overview of the ongoing progress with certified peer specialists in our system as well as the success and expansion of Medication Assisted Treatments (e.g., Vivitrol) in the PA Department of Corrections.

The secretary also fielded several questions from attendees, which included inquiries related to training initiatives that the DOC is pursuing.

Here, Secretary Wetzel provided an overview of the Department's CITT (Crisis Intervention Team Training) program and even called on several DOC employees (Superintendent Dr. Robert Marsh and CITT Coordinator James Kehoe) to provide their insight and experience with the CITT training to the entire conference; this was very well received by all in attendance!

Finally, Secretary Wetzel emphasized to all in attendance his ongoing commitment to ensuring that decisions in the PA Department of Corrections will continue to be based on data and evidence based practices, as well as his commitment to ensuring that criminal justice processes in the commonwealth consider those individuals we serve are not only being treated with respect, dignity, and professionalism, but that their humanity is kept in mind throughout this process. Throughout this concluding discussion, Secretary Wetzel emphasized that accomplishing this effort must also consider the safety of correctional and mental health professionals working in our prisons and communities.  

On the conference planning committee were Dr. Robert Marsh, who is superintendent of SCI Benner Township; Dr. Lance Couturier, former licensed psychologist director of the PA DOC; and Greg Plotica, current licensed psychologist manager at SCI Camp Hill.

Faculty include Dr. Lucas Malishchak, director of the DOC's Psychology Office; Lynn Patrone, the DOC's Mental Health Advocate; Kellie Nielsen, psychological services associate at SCI Camp Hill; Miranda Galbreath, psychological services specialist at SCI Albion; Amy Talipski, drug and alcohol treatment specialist 2 at SCI Waymart; Danielle Tedesco, psychological services specialist at SCI Camp Hill; Kathleen Kocherzat, licensed psychologist manager at SCI Mercer; Rev. John Kowalczyk, contractor at SCI Waymart; Dr. Tricia Mikolon, psychological services specialist at SCI Waymart; Dr. Cynthia Wright, DOC regional licensed psychologist manager; Dr. Lance Couturier, former licensed psychologist director of the PA DOC; and DOC Secretary John Wetzel.



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